Baby Talk: Issue No. 60 May 2016

Baby Talk: Resources to Support the People Who Work With Infants and Toddlers

Issue No. 60, May 2016

New, Free Audiovisual Modules and Resources

I-LABS Outreach has recently made available a new website and a set of online training modules that explore the latest science of child development. The modules are designed to be useful for both everyday interactions with children and for informing systems-level programs and policies. There are now 10 modules available on topics that include brain development, language development, attachment and sharing attention. Five of the modules are available in Spanish, and Vietnamese and Somali versions will be added soon. Modules include visual and auditory content that is reinforced with video clips, as well as supplemental resources like discussion guides to facilitate use of the modules in group settings. You can access the new website at http://modules.ilabs.uw.edu/outreach-modules/. All users, even those registered on the previous system, will need to create a new account.

Right from Birth: Eliminating the Talk Gap in Young Children

The purpose of this 2015 paper by Dr. Steven F. Warren is twofold. First, it describes the challenge presented by the huge “word gap” discovered by Hart and Risley. These researchers first identified an experiential gap that develops over the early childhood period, leaving many children already far behind their age peers when they enter kindergarten. Then, it summarizes a small set of strategies that research has shown can enhance young children’s language development if used frequently. These strategies can be employed by family members and other caregivers to close the word gap. https://www.lenafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/RightFromBirth_Warren_5.12.2015_v.3.pdf

What effect does poverty have on the developing brains of babies and toddlers? ZERO TO THREE’s new infographic shows how young children in poverty, starting at birth, begin to develop gaps in their growth and development when compared with their peers. Nearly half of America’s babies live in or near poverty—this is a clear warning sign for America’s global competitiveness. Investing in support for parents in nurturing children and positive early learning opportunities can help. http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/infant-toddler-policy-issues/poverty-infographic.html

Six Words You Should Say Today

College athletes were asked what their parents said that made them feel great, that amplified their joy, during and after a ballgame. Their overwhelming response: ‘I love to watch you play.’ Click the link below to read more about this important phrase. I promise you’ll feel better after you do. http://families.naeyc.org/blog/6-words-you-should-say-today

What’s The Relationship Between Infant/Toddler Development and School Readiness?

Developmental Foundations of School Readiness for Infants and Toddlers: A Research to Practice Report by Dr. Diane M. Horm (2016) summarizes research about development during the first three years in order to highlight areas that are foundational for later school readiness and success. This information can be used as a guide by programs to inform their practices and policies and to help programs think about their own theories of change or strategies for continuous improvement and what outcomes they are most focused on improving for young children. Learn more at

Baby Talk is a free, one-way listserv that is distributed each month. Each issue features one or more resources, the majority of which are available to download at no cost. To join the listserv, send an email with no message to subscribe-babytalk@listserv.unc.edu. To suggest resources, please contact Camille Catlett at camille.catlett@unc.edu or (919) 966-6635.